1978 Jeep CJ7 Won't shift

2WALTERSINNM

MEMBER

1 POST

1978 JEEP CJ7

4.2L

6 CYL

4WD

MANUAL

The clutch plate exploded one day, so I replaced it. New clutch plate bearings, the whole nine yards. What I didn't know what that the clutch ball (the one that's supposed to be next to the clutch arm) had to be installed BEFORE I put the whole thing back together! Now the damn thing won't shift at all. How can I put in the clutch ball w/o dropping the whole transmission again? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 3:59 PM

1 Reply

CJ MEDEVAC

EXPERT

10,370 POSTS

CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE HAVE BEEN IN THAT PREDICAMENT

MAYBE SOMETHING JUST AS BAD!

I TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF THE CJ POSTS

I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT

YOU MIGHT BE PULLIN' THE TRANNY AND TRANSFER CASE AGAIN (PLEASE TELL ME YOU DID NOT SEPARATE THEM LAST TIME AROUND, BOTH STILL TOGETHER!)

NOW THEN

THIS LEAVES US OPEN TO MAYBE MAKE THIS WORK!

I'M SURE YOU KNOW PART OF THIS ANYWAY

WE WILL NEED A SMALL BRIGHT LIGHT, SOMETIMES I USE A BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET AND A BRAKE LIGHT (OR OTHER SMALL BULB) SOMETHING I CAN LAY UP IN THE HOLE THAT IS BRIGHT AND NO NEED TO MOVE IT AROUND (LIKE A FLASHLIGHT)

LOSE THE CLUTCH LINKAGES (DANGLE OUT OF THE WAY)

LET'S SNATCH OFF THE CLUTCH ARM SPRINGS

PULL OFF THE CLUTCH ARM RUBBER DUST BOOT

HERE'S THE PART I'M IN THE DARK WITH

CAN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH ARM FORWARD ENOUGH TO SEE/ AND INSTALL THE BALL ON IT'S PEDESTAL?

I MIGHT EVEN "RATCHET STRAP" OR ETC, THE ARM FORWARD

STILL IN THE BLIND HERE

IF YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE

MY APPROACH WOULD BE

NOT TO DROP THE BALL WHILE IN THE TIGHT QUARTERS

ANOTHER ON THE SPOT, FIELD EXPEDIENT TOOL MIGHT HELP, YOU MAY HAVE TO DESIGN YOUR OWN.

HERE'S MY "MAKE BELIEVE" SUBMISSION

SCOTCH (CELLOPHANE) TAPE AROUND THE BALL

THIS IS NOW TAPED TO A SCREWDRIVER TIP (OR WHATEVER YOU CAN FEED IN THERE!) AND MAYBE OFF OF THE END, ALMOST DANGLING

FISH IT IN THERE

GET 'ER IN THE PEDESTAL THEN YOU OR A PAL RELEASE THE CLUTCH ARM

IN A PERFECT WORLD, THE BALL IS NOW TRAPPED IN THE CORRECT SPOT

GIVE THE SCREWDRIVER A YANK

THE TAPE RIPS LOOSE

THE BALL STAYS IN PLACE

ANY TAPE LEFT ON THE BALL WILL BE WORN AWAY, AND HURT NOTHING!

AS MANY CJ FIX PICS I HAVE MADE, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY THAT MIGHT HELP IN THIS SITUATION

SO

I RAN OVER TO "JEEP FORUM" AND SEARCHED AND BORROWED 3 FROM OVER THERE

THE REST ARE MINE!

THIS MIGHT AID YOU IN SEEING UPFRONT, WHAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO SEE LATER IN THIS MISSION

RETURN TO THIS THREAD WITH GOOD NEWS, AND A METHOD THAT ANOTHER JEEP GUY COULD SUCCESSFULLY USE!